Navigating the Blue Line: Social Media's Impact on Public Perception of the Police

• In Event: Emerging Voices in Criminology, Sponsored by ACCCJ and DIC

Abstract

The relationship between the portrayal of police on social media and public perception of the police, especially during the time of crises, is both critical and under-investigated. Though a social media explosion is only a recent phenomenon, studies have found that social media impacts all aspects of our social institutions as well as individual and group behavior. Using a video content analysis of 1,000 trending TikTok videos in the United States, examining video imagery, depicted actions, and accompanying textual content, this study dissects the police image as portrayed on social media and analyses public attitudes towards law enforcement before and after a recent major event, the death of George Floyd, that led to political protests. By analysing the social media-driven narratives, the study further reveals the mechanisms through which social media platforms construct and reshape the police image during times of crises. This study sheds light on how social media serves as a dynamic medium for framing police images, thereby providing a foundational step towards understanding the digital construction of law enforcement's public relations.

Author

• Qingyang Hong, University of Nevada, Las Vegas